Apparatus for removing matter from surfaces of etched plates



Jan. 1, 1946. .1. NOWATIUS APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATTER FROM SURFACES OF ETGHED PLATES Filed Nov. 25, 1944 5 Sheets-"Sheet 1'- 'iilli INVENTOR.

J. NoweTlus 2,392,176

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR' Jose ah fiowazzus Filed Nov. 23, 1944 w l L Jan. 1, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING- MATTER FROM SURFACES OF ETGHEDPLATES JI'JWRIVEY 5 Sheets-She et 5 IN V EN TOR.

J. NOWATIUS Filed Nov. 23, 1944 a R W w W an n Jan. 1, 1946.

APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATTER FROM SURFACES OF ETCHED PLATES jill Jan. 1, 1946. J; NOWATIUS APPARATUS FOR REMOVINGMATTER FROM SURFACES OF ETCHED PLATES FiIed Nov. 23, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR Jose ah 1V0 wm/zus flTZ'OF/VEY J. NOWATIUS APPARATUS FOR REMOVING MATTER FROM SURFACES 0F E'IGHED PLATES Filed Nov. 23, 194 5 Sheets Sheet 5 W Y m w o m A a? a N m E Q u u H means for conveying the plates and of the means jfor actuating the scrapers, part of the structure bein broken oif to show one of the scrapers.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse vertical section, on line 44 of Fig. 2, showing one of the nozzles associated with the scrapers to supp y softening fluid for thematter to be removed.

Figs. 5 andfi illustrate a plate respectively prior to removal ofth matter adhering to the'portion to be exposed and after partial treatment thereof.

ends fastenedito these latter.

Fig. 7 'is a fragmentary horizontal section'- through the machine, on line 7 -'l of Fig. 9 in the elements 36, 38, 46 is subjected during operation of the machine to a continuous reciprocatory motion through kinematic connections to be dedirection of the arrows, illustrating details of the a means for driving'the machine slide.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan viewgpartly' in section, on line 8--8 of Fig; 9. 4

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal section through the machine, on line 99 of Fig. 7, illustrating the scrapers and actuating means therefor, and their relation to the'plate conveying andsupporting means in one of the extreme" or inoperative positions of the scrapers.

Fig. 10 is a vertical transverse section,- on line Ill-l0 of Fig. 9. I

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary plan view, in the plane of line ll-"Il of Fig. 3 looking downwardly.

' Fig. 12 is a side elevation, partly in section on line l2'!2 of Fig.' l1, illustrating in'detail the mounting of the scrapers and the construction of, the means for controlling "the operation thereof. j V J Figs. 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 diagrammatically illustrate the action of thescrapers on a plate and the various positions assumed by the scrapers and associated controlling elements during operation of the machine. Referring now in detail to the: drawings, and in'the first place to-Figs. l'to 3, numeral lfl'gen erally indicates a supporting frame'orbed for the machine of the present invention, formed of suitably interconnected longitudinal angles l2 and transverse channels l3 mounted on legs ll.

l legs H, through chains 49.

scribed, and may be designated as a reciprocatory slide.

Uprights 43' are secured to the members 28, at the end of 'the machine from which the treated plates aredischarge'd, as by means of rivets 42 (see Fig. 10), while' uprights 44 are similarly secured to the members'28 at the opposite or entrance end of the machine.

A horizontal shaft 45 is rotatably mounted in bearings 41 of the uprights 43 and has fast thereon, at its opposite ends, sprocket wheels 46 driven from a pair'of sprocket wheels 48, mounted on the aforementioned shaft 20 carried by the A further pair of sprocket wheels 56 is carried by the shaft 45 inwardly of the uprights 43. A second shaft'5l is likewise journaled inthe uprights 43, as at 59. and carries sprocket wheels52 alined with'the sprockets 53 and connected therewith by means of chains 53.

At the ends of shaft 5| outwardly of the uprights 43, are mounted cranks 54 having pivoted thereon connecting rods 55 provided with end a pivots 56, which pass through slots 58 in the tracks A supporting member l4,"secured to the legs H underneaththe bed l0,' carries an electric motor l5lwhich is drivingly connected to a speed'reducing gear mechanism mounted within the housing l6 and comprising ashaft I 1 having fast thereon,

outsidethe housing l6, 'a sprocket wheel I 8: A horizontal shaft 20 is supported transverselyof the machine, belowfthe dischargelend thereof, inlbearing's' secured to a pair of the legs. H and has'fastened thereto, nearone ofits endspa sprocketwheel 2| driven from the sprocket wheel l8 through a chain, 22. "A bracket 24 carries a tank"25funderneath the entrance end of themae chine, for the purpose that will become later apparentf I 7 1 Aipair of flat bars'or plates 26, superimposed upon and suitably secured to the machine bed l0,

, extend longitudinally along the opposite sides of the machine. Adjacent said bars 26, inwardly thereof, there are fastened to thefbed In a pair of'comp'osite side members 28, substantially longitudinally coextensive withthe bars 26, providing parallel walls along the opposite .sides of the machine havingupper outwardly extending portions defining plane horizontal supporting surfaces.

32 and are secured to the aforementioned bars 36 of' the reciprocatory slide .mountedin said tracks. The stiuctu're'described is shown in Figs.

1 and 2, and the details thereof are best illustrated in Figs. '7, 9 and 10. e

As will be apparent from the foregoing, operation of themotor 'l5 imparts to the bars 36 and other elements of the slide, through the connectio'ns described, a continuous'reciprocatory mo- "tion in a horizontal plane, for the purpose and with the results hereafter'disclosed.

A plurality of uniformly spaced pairs of superimposed rollers 66, 6|, having a lining'of rubber or similar material, are mounted transversely of Y the machine below the reciprocatory slide. Said rollers extend through suitable openings in the members 28 and are journaled at their ends in pairs of superimposed blocks 62 63, which latter ware mounted on theplates 26 at the opposite sides of the machine. Pairs of vertical rods 64 Superimposed upon said horizontal surfaces of the members 28, are composite members 32, consisting of bars arranged to form a channel structure secured to the members28, as by means of bolts 33, and providing apair of tracks longitudinally of the machine.

Parallel bars as are slidably 'mounted it "the are fastened'to the plates 26 and extend through and beyond the superimposed blocks 62, 63 to :maintain the-same in fixedposition relative to the plates 26 and in vertical alinement with one another. Springs 65lsurround'the rods'64 between the headsfl66 of these latter and the upper face of the blocks .63, to maintainthese latter in surface engagement with the underlying blocks 62, in which position of the blocks the upper rollers 6|. will contact the lower rollers 66. As will'be evident, the springs. 65 will permit sufiicient upward displacement of the. uppenblocks and'roller journaled therein to allow of the passage of the plates to be treated between the rollers, while insuring drivingcontact of the rubber surface of therollers with the plates in the simultaneous rotation of the rollers, efiected as follows.

Both the rollers 66 and 6| of each pairareprotracks, 32 and areinterconnected attheirends vided at one end thereof, outwardly of the ad- The complex of V ja'ce'rit Blocks 6!, "63; with pih-ioris 68 that areas constant mesh, and the lower-roller 60 of each hair extends beyond its pinion -68 to inouht a of maeposeq "sprocket wheels 10, 1| fast ther'eoii (see Fig. 3). The inner sprocket wheel tithe first roller to hem the discharge end of the machiiie is driveh; through a chain 1 2', from a sprocket wheel "M fastened to the aforementioned shaft--20; and all the following rollers 60;-'to'the entrance end of the machine, are driven in synohronism with the first roller through a plurality of chains interconneoting the sprocket wheelstnere'er ih the maiin'er shown in Fig.- all the upper rollers 61 being, of course, siiheiltaheolisly and synchronous y rotated in opposite direction to the rollers 60 by means 01' the ii-leshiiig-piniori's '68. 'As'will be apparent; the rotation "of the pairs or rollers 60 6! will take place simultaneousl with thereciprocatory motloh-oi-the 'slldabdthbeihg-diiVen from the same shaft --throiigh the respective connections de- Aplii'rality' of stationary bars 18,'suitab1y-seeiii'd to angleirons 19 fastened to thememhers 28; extend-transversely of the machine inter-mediate-thepairs of rollers with their upper face mtne plane of-the l-ineof contact of the rollers, to provide support for the plates to be treated in the travel of these latter through-the machine brought ahoutby the action of the' roller's' thereon (see pai tiolil-aily-Flg's. 3 and 9) Eaeh 'efthe bars 36 of the reciprocatory slide has heltedthereta as at 83 '(Fig. 3);'a pair of ii'iFigQ-B; on studs-fixes" to the bars-and received Within the aforementioned-forked portion of-the membersvan. The bars-'82 ar'e pivotally sup orted at their opposite ends, as at 86, to thelowerends of downwardly extending rockable-arrn's 81, 88 pivotally connected to the-uprights 43, '44; respeehve y.

As will be evident, thhars-S-Z are therefore operati 'ely associated with the reciprocatory slide for synchronized movement therewith, through their rollers- 85 engaged by the members members oriiprights 80 equall spaced from the M ill of theba'rs'iw, and the bars82 are caused during each 'strokeof the recipro'eatory slide in either direction to move longitudinally with this latter, while being simultaneously gradually vertically displaced relative thereto in'opposi-te dir'eetioh owing to the oscillation of the supporting arms 81,18 eon-current with the longitudinal mov ment of the bars; Obviously, any ointer the harem, or any element rigidly-carriedthere by, will move during r ipreeanener the slide in a vertical plane and along an alCllate-path between tweextrenie, or outermost and uppermost, positions.

Underneath the bars 82 and above the bars 49 or thereciprocatory slide with'which they are v'e 1y alind there are provided transverse horiioi'ital bars '90, oorinectd to itheba'rsf82 and ve ically adjustahle relative thereto by means or bolts 9 threaded through the bars 82 and :i'iito meters at (see-nartleularly mgseaand 9). pair's ofs'c'rews fl shown in Fig.9 adjacent the bolts 8|, eoope'rat'e with these latter to maintain the bars in adjusted position'and oppose lipward thrusts exerted on the bars during operationof themaohine.

Reference will howbe had particularly to Figs. ll arid 12, from which it will be seen that each bar '90 carries -'a humher of newnwardly broiecting studs 94 disposed along parallel lines longi tu'dinally thereof. Bushings 95 are mounted each bar 40 in vertically spaced relation'to the studs94,arid 'slidably' receive and guide rods 86 whieh-eicten'd downwardly beyond the-bushing and the barmand'upwardly towards the studs, seen of the rodsBB carries atits upper e'nda collar '91-, taste'nedthereto by meari's-of a set screw --98; and a --flan'ged sleeve -99 superiiilpose'd upon said collar;

A heavy compression spring 1-00 is mounted on ea'chstud 9-4 and assooiateds'leeve 99; between the flange of the sleeve and the underside of *the bar 90,; while aeo'rhparatively weaker spring 4M surrounding the bushing 95 and the rod '96 is disposed between thecollar 91 'andthe' up er'faee or the harm.- 'Plate's'lM are arranged underneath the bar 4t, ata'n angle to the longitudinal axis thereof; each plate being suitably secured; as by Welding; to-the projectin portions ofapair of rods 96; A scraper 1-04,- -'preferahly consisting of a block of hard felt, is msumea between each plate 102 and apl'ate 105 simmered thereto by means of bolts 106 passin through the'sonape'r The arrangement and dimensions of the "elements of-the-structure justdescribed iss'uchthat, in the position reached by the oscillatory'frame at the end of 'each'stroke of the associated reciprocatory slide in onedireotion, the bars 90 of theoscillatory frame will have moved to an er:- treme (uppermost and outermost) position, whereinthey-are vertically spaced from the verticallystationa'ry bars of the slide by such :a distance that the spring [-00 are substantially not under load; therefore, the weaker springs in! are allowed to displace .u'pwa'rdly the lassoelated col1ars 98 andthe rods 961:0 which'these latter are fastened; to move the scrapers I04 ,to an uppermost inoperative position wherein the scrapers are vertically spaced, as indicated in Figs. 12 and 13; from the underlyingestationary bars 18 by a distance sufficient to prevent contact of the scrapers witha plate? superimposed upon said bars. If the-movement of the slide has been to the .left of the machine as shown in Fig. -'9, the scrapers I04; being associated with-thevslide for conjoint longitudinal movement therewith, will also-have moved between adjacent pairs of rollers 60, 6| to an outermost position to the-left relative to the bars '18, as illustrated in the show- 'in'g ofFigs. 9 and 13.

Assuming that the machine is in operation,

during the following stroke of the reciprocatory slide in the opposite direction, or to the right, the'oscillatory framewill 1 gradually move dawnwardly; in the ensuingdownwardmovement of the bars 90 toward the bars 40,conourrent with the synchronous longitudinal displacement of said hars 99 and 40, the springs IBI will gradually yield to the heavier springs IOU, .so that the scrapers are moved downwardly, while advancing from the left to the rig'ht, to the position indif ii 14 whereri theycomeinto' onta t the surfaceof'a plate positioned onthe bars 15. Y "The arrangement or the elements such as to cause this contact to be made in ad; vance of the moment in which the bars 90 complete their downward movement, theheavy springs'llll] yielding in the latter part of the descent of the bars.

At the end of their downward movement, the 1 bars 90 will be alined with the stationary bars 18, and the scrapers will have traveled half the distance between their outermost opposite positions relative to the bars 78, as shown in Fig. 15. The verticaldisplacement of the bars 40 and 1 scrapers I04 has been somewhat exaggerated in the figures, for clarity of illustration.

ers and are successively acted upon by the scrapers in the manner described. 1 V 7 By judiciously proportioning the sprockets through which the reciprocatory slide and the first roller 66 arerespectively driven, such a ratio betweenthe speed of reciprocation ofthe slide and the speedwith which the plates are conveyed through the machine may be easily obtaind as to insure proper contact of the scrapers As will be apparent, in the continuing movement of the elements to the right the barsfin will then begin to 'rise, the scrapers remaining in'contact with the surface of the plate P-until the elements have reached a position to the right i correspondingto that of Fig, 14, after which the springs I!!! will gradually be allowed to expand to Withdraw the scrapers from the plate and return the same to an uppermost inoperative position, as illustrated in Figs. 16 and 17.

:Since the bars 90 are vertically adjustable relative to the bars 40,.it is evident that the initial vertical spacin of the scrapers relative to 3 the underlying stationary bars 18 may be varied as desired, to determine different points of initial contact, and therefore different contact pressure and areas, of the scrapers with a plate'of a pre-.

j determined thickness travelling on the bars, 18, as well as to permit proper actionof the scrapers on plates of different thicknesses. Preferably, the

. bars at will be 50 adjusted fromthe entrance to the discharge ends of the machine as to provide a gradually decreasing contact pressure in the progression of a plate through the machine.

' A plurality of pipes I98 extend transversely of the machine adjacent the bars 90 and are carried for movement with the recip-rocable slide by supports I09 bolted to the bars 36, or by blocks H0 fastened to the aforementioned members-or uprights 80 (see particularly Figs. 1, 3 and 4). Said pipes 168 are connected to a manifold III to which there is continuously delivered, during operation of the machine, from a source of supply and through flexible connections not shown, an

appropriate solvent or dispersing liquid agent adapted to soften the matter to be removed by the action of the scraper from the unetched surfaces or highlights of the to be exposed. a v

. Nozzles i l2 extendidownwardly from the pipes I08 toward the scrapers l 04, and have their ends set at a convenient angle to direct the softening liquid upon the scrapers and the surfaceof the plates travelling underneath these latter (Figs.

plates that have.

' 4 and 9); The liquid discharged from the nozzles, besides conditioning for removal the matter adhering to the surfaces of the plates to be scraped, is effective to drive off the removed matter which, together with the liquid, passes into a tank, not shown, located underneath the machine bed and thereafter is suitably drained therefrom.

The operation of the machine will be evident from the foregoing description. The plates P,

1 coated with enamel upon their entire surface including the resist-covered unetched portions thereof, are fed to the first'pair of rollers from which they will be gradually conveyed in a continuous uniform movement tothe discharge end of the machine; In their gradual advancement, the plates pass underneath the series of scrapers inthe zones comprised between the pairs of rollwith the entire surface of the plates travelling thereunder.

The enamel and underlyingresist adhering to the unetched portions of the plates, properly conditioned by the softening liquid discharged thereon from the nozzles and, if desired, by previous I a immersion of the plates in the tank 25 filled with similar liquid,-are easily removed. The pressure versely affecting the enamel applied to the etched lower plate, portions.

Because of the possibility of precisely controlling the pressure exerted by the scrapers and because of the character of the movement imparted thereto, the action of the scrapers essentially differs from that obtained in a manual operation.

and leads to results not heretofore attainable.

While I have described the invention substan- V tially with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that changes and trated in the drawingswithout departing. from the spirit of the invention orexceeding the scope of the claims. I claim: V l. A machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the unetched portions'thereof, in a final phase of the production of such plates, comprising means for conveying a plate through the machine in a continuous movement, a plurality of scrapers disposed at spaced'intervals along the machine trans:

; versely thereof, said scrapersbeing movable in opposite directions longitudinally of the machine between two extreme inoperative positions along a curved path to successively contactingly traverse v the surface of the unetched portions of said plate, in the advancement of this latter through the machine, in a predetermined zone of their travel to progressively remove the matter adhering to said surface, and means functioning simultaneously with the plate-conveying means for 'con-.

tinuously actuating said scrapers during operation of the machine. I

v 2. A machinefor treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the un-' etched portions thereof, in a final phase of the production of such plates, comprising means for conveying a plate throughthe machine ina con-V tinuous movement, a plurality of scrapers disposed at uniformly spaced intervals along the machine transversely'thereof, said scrapers being movable in opposite directions longitudinally of the machine between two extreme inoperative positions along a curved path to successively 'contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of said plate, in the advancement, of this. latter modifications may be made in the structures illus-.

through the machine, in apredetermined zone of their travel, means functioning simultaneously with said'platesconveying means for continuously actuating said scrapers, and means forapplying to the plate inthe zones of action of the scrapers a fluid adapted to soften the matter adhering to the plate Surface contacted by the scrapers, to condition said matter f orremovalby the scrapers.

3. A, machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the unetched portions. thereof, in a finalphase of the production of such plates, comprising a. plurality of continuously driven spaced, pairs of rollers dapted to Convey a plate. through the, machine a. continuous movement, an oscillatory frame, a plura i y of seri s of scrapers. disposedat spaced intervals transvcrsclyof the, machine in the zones o this latter intermediate said; pairs of: rollers, he; scrapers of; each scricsibein movable in on pos te directions, lon itudinally of the machine etween two extreme in perative iiositionsmeans ontrol ed by said soil at yframc, f r ca s n theser cs of, scrape s to follow a curved p h ur n reciprocation, between said extreme inoperat vc p sitions to succcssiv ly' ontactingly raverse the surface P a in t e passage of this l tter betw en th pairs; of rollers, in a, predetermined zone of their travel, and, means functioning simultaneously with th plate-conveying rollers for continuously actuating said series of scrapers and said oscillatoryframe during operation, of the machine.

a. A machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of" theunetched portions thereof, in a final ph se of the production of such plates, comprisin mean for conveying a plate through themachineina continuous movement,a plurality of scrapers disposed at spaced intervals along the machine transversely thereof, said scrapers being movable in opposite directions longitudinally of the machine between two extreme inoperative positions along a curved path to successively contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of said plate, in the advancement of this latter through the machine, in a predetermined zone of their travel to progressively remove the matter adhering to said surface, and a mechanism operated simultaneously with the plate-conveying means for continuously actuating said scrapers during operation of the machine, said mechanism comprising means associated with the scrapers adjustable to provide different extreme inoperative positions of these latter, whereby to control the area and pressure of contact of the scrapers with the aforementioned surface of the plate traversed by the scrapers.

5. .A machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the unetched portions thereof, in a final phase of the of the une ched portions of sa production of such plates, comprisin a plurality of continuously driven spaced pairs of rollers adapted to convey a plate through the machine in a continuous movement, an oscillatory frame, a plurality of series of scrapers disposed at spaced intervals transversely of the machine in the zones of this latter intermediate said pairs of rollers, the scrapers of each series being movable in opposite directions longitudinally of the machine, means controlled by said oscillatory frame for causing the series of scrapers to follow a curved path in their movement longitudinally of the machine to successively contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of said plate in the passage of this latter between the pairs of rollers, and a mechanism continuously operated simultaneously with the plate-conveying: rollers for actuating said seriesv ofscrapers, said mechanism comprising means associated with thescrapers adjustable to control the pressure, exerted by the scrapers while contactingly traversing the aforementioned plate surface.

6. A machine for treatin etched platcsto re mov matter adhering to the, surface of the unetched portions thereof, in a. final phase of the production of such plates, comp ising a. plurality f con inuously dr v n p ed p irs of rollers adapted to convey a plate through the machine in a continuous movement, a plurality Of'series of scrapers disposed at Spaced intervals transversely of the machine in the zones of this latterintermediate said pairs o roll rs, he scrape s. of each series being movable in oppos te d ect ons ongitudinally of the machine between two extreme inoperative posi s alon a rv d path to sueess vc yontaotins ytra e se th s r ace of;- th u etched portionsofsaid la e. in the assage of this l tter etensa dv pa sof r llers, in a zon of ir; travel, intermed ate said e t emeinoperative positions and a mechanism. o ont n ouslyactuating said scrapers during operation of the machine simultaneously with; th plate con e g er said mech s omp sin means associated with th scrapers adjustable to pro, vide differentv extreme inoperative positions of these latter, wherebyto control the area andpressure of contact of the scrapers with the aforementioned surface of the Plate traversed by the scrapers.

7. A machine for treating etched plates to re-. move matter adhering tothe surface of the unetched portions thereof, in a, final phase of the production of such; plates, comprising a plurality of continuouslydriven spaced pairs of rollers adapted to convey a plate through the machine in a continuous movement, a'plurality of series of scrapers disposed at spaced intervals transversely of the machine in the zones of this latter intermediate said pairs of rollers, the scrapers of each series being movable in opposite directions longitudinally of the machine between two extreme inoperative positions along a curved path to successively contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of said plate, in the passage of this latter between said pairs of rollers, in a zone of their travel intermediate said extreme inoperative positions, a mechanism for actuating said scrapers comprising means associated with the scrapers adjustable to provide different extreme inoperative positions of these latter, whereby to control the area and pressure of contact of the scrapers with the aforementioned surface of the plate traversed by the scrapers, means for continuously operating said mechanism during operation of the machine simultaneously with the plate-conveying rollers, and nozzles associated with the scrapers adapted to direct upon these latter a fluid for softening the matter adhering to the plate surface traversed by the scrapers to conditions said matter for removal, said fluid being continuously supplied to the machine during operation of the machine.

8. In a machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the unetched portions thereof, in a final phase of the production of such plates, means for conveying a plate through the machine in a continuous movement, a horizontal slide mounted for reciprocation "longitudinally .of the machine above the plane of movement of said plate, an oscillatory frame disposed above said slide for synchronized movement therewith, a plurality of scrapers extending transversely of the machine underneath the slide associated with this latter for reciprocation therewith longitudinally of the machine, and means actuated by said'oscillatory frame for vertically displacing said scrapers between an uppermost and a lowermost position during their reciprocation conjointly with the lide, to cause the reciprocation longitudinally of the machine above the planeof movement of said plate, an oscillatory 1 frame disposed above said slide'for'synchronized movement therewith, a plurality'of spaced series ofscrapers extending transversely of the machine underneath the slide between said pairs of rollers, all of said scrapers being associated with the slide for reciprocation therewith longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of rigid members movable with said oscillatory frame and means actuated by said members for vertically displacing said series of scrapers'in opposite directions relative to the slide during their reciprocation conjointly with this latter, to cause the series of scrapers to successively contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of the plate, during the advancement of this latter between the pairs of displacement of the scrapers relative to the slide thereby permitting to controllably vary the contact pressure of the scrapers on the plate.

10. In a machine for treating etched plates to remove matter adhering to the surface of the unetched portions thereof, in aflnal phase of the production of such plates, a plurality of continuously drivenspaced pairs of rollers adapted to convey a plate through the machine ina continuous" movement, a horizontal slide mounted for reciprocation longitudinally of the machine above 7 the plane of movement of said plate, as oscillatory frame disposed above said slide for synchronized movement therewith, a plurality of spaced series of scrapers extending'transversely of the machine underneath the slide between said pairs of rollers, all of said scrapers being associated with the slide for reciprocation therewith longitudinally of the machine, a plurality of rigid members movable with said oscillatory frame, means actuated by said members for vertically displacing said series of scrapers in oppositedirections relative to the slide during their reciprocation conjointly with this latter, to cause the series of scrapers to successively contactingly traverse the surface of the unetched portions of the'plate, during the ad.-'

vancement of this latter between the pairs of rollers, in a, zone of their travel, toprogressively remove the matter adhering to said 'surface,

' means for continuously actuating the slide and associated oscillatory frame in predetermined 7 speed relation to the rollers, and means for suprollers, in a zone of their travel, to progressively I remove the matter adhering to said surface, the

aforementioned rigid members movablawith the plying to the plate in the zones of action of the scrapers a fluid adapted to soften the matter to be removed by the scrapers.

JOSEPH NOWA'I'IUS.

oscillatory frame being vertically adjustable rela- Q tive to the same to vary the amount of vertical 

